Kiev (AFP) – Mircea Lucescu on Thursday reversed his decision to quit Dynamo Kiev just days after news of the controversial appointment of the former Shakhtar Donetsk coach sparked an outcry from fans. "I am very happy to come back to Ukraine. I really hope we will go a long way together," Lucescu said during […]

Geneva (AFP) – A Swiss special prosecutor has launched criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Swiss authorities said Thursday. "This concerns abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, assisting offenders and incitement to these acts," the authorities said in a statement. The special prosecutor has been investigating suspected collusion between Infantino and Swiss […]

Milan (AFP) – Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Thursday that the Italian club's Champions League last 16, second leg game against Barcelona should be moved from Spain where there is a new wave of coronavirus cases. "I hear a lot of perplexity and fear coming from Spain and they acting as if nothing […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City are set to sign Netherlands defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth after agreeing a £41 million ($53 million) deal, according to British media reports on Thursday. City are reported to have negotiated a £40 million fee with relegated Bournemouth, with the deal potentially rising by a further £1 million depending on […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA is "confident" the final stages of the Champions League and Europa League will go ahead without problems despite recent cases of coronavirus at Real Madrid and Sevilla, a spokesperson told AFP on Thursday. Real, who announced on Tuesday that forward Mariano Diaz had tested positive for COVID-19, play at Manchester City […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Sevilla and Espanyol boss Pablo Machin will not take up the head coaching job at Qingdao Huanghai in China after one of his relatives caught the coronavirus, a report said Thursday. The 45-year-old Spaniard was named to lead the Chinese Super League club last week, days before the virus-delayed season began. […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Enterprising Chinese Super League football fans skirted a coronavirus ban on spectators by renting rooms at a hotel overlooking one of the closed stadiums. Chanting supporters of Shanghai SIPG and Tianjin Teda packed out the Sports International Hotel in Kunshan and were clearly audible as SIPG won 3-1 thanks to two goals […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard has set his sights on capping an impressive first season as Chelsea manager by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory against Arsenal on Saturday. Lampard enjoyed four FA Cup final victories as a Chelsea player, but getting his hands on the first trophy of his nascent managerial career would […]

Miami (AFP) – Los Angeles FC coach Bob Bradley believes striker Diego Rossi can only get better as his team prepares for a quarter-final duel with Orlando at the Major League Soccer restart tournament on Friday. Rossi scored twice in LAFC's 4-1 rout of MLS Cup champions Seattle in the last 16 on Monday, taking […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday, days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, prompting coach Maurizio Sarri to consider fielding his Under-23 team in Saturday's finale to conserve resources ahead of their Champions League challenge. Cagliari's 20-year-old forward Luca Gagliano tapped in the opener eight […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, with their Champions League last 16 return leg looming. Cagliari's 20-year-old forward Luca Gagliano tapped in the opener eight minutes into his first Serie A match, beating veteran Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon […]

London (AFP) – Brighton signed Netherlands defender Joel Veltman from Ajax for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday. Veltman agreed a three-year contract with the Premier League side. The 28-year-old helped Ajax win the Dutch title three times after coming through the club's vaunted academy. "We're delighted to welcome Joel to the club," Brighton boss Graham Potter […]

Doha (AFP) – Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez said on Wednesday that he had recovered from the coronavirus, returned home and resumed his duties as Qatari side Al-Sadd's head coach. "Thank you so much for all the caring messages that I've received during these days," he wrote on his verified Instagram page alongside an image […]

Milan (AFP) – Ciro Immobile moved to within one goal of equalling the Serie A single season scoring record on Wednesday as Lazio beat relegated Brescia 2-0 to stay in the race for second place. Immobile struck his 35th league goal of the campaign eight minutes from time in Rome to close in on Gonzalo […]

London (AFP) – The Football Association announced on Wednesday that the Community Shield, the traditional curtainraiser for the new English season, would take place at Wembley on August 29. The match between Premier League champions Liverpool and the winners of Saturday's FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea will be played two weeks before the […]